Sea Trek II - The Wrath of Alaska

[Mkehlb]

You guys are totally adorable!

[themerle]

I'm really enjoying your review! Alaska is one of my favorite cruises. Thanks for sharing! I'll be checking back for the rest of your review!

[Captain Carnival]

You guys are totally adorable!

 

 

Thanks - We're Just A Couple Of Kids At Heart!!

 

 

More To Come Soon!

[Captain Carnival]

More Mendenhall Majesty

 



 

Back To the Glacier.

 

 

We're Off To Hike!

 

 

Climbing Up Up And Away!

 

 

Taking A Breather!

 

 

Navigating Back Down!

 

 

 

Safe & Sound!

[pe4all]

Great pictures! We helicoptered to Mendenhall Glacier and dog-sledded there - a truly once in a lifetime event! (as per my sig pic). Our CCL Alaska cruise is the only cruise we got off of and said "we have to do that again!" There were so many things we wanted to do, and never got a chance. I think our lungs got frost-bite from our mouths hanging open just admiring all the beautiful scenery on that cruise!

[tamirpr]

Loving your review.

 

Question about the Mendenhall excursion. We looked at it for next summer. I read some reviews that said there wasn't enough time to walk to the glacier and back. Did you walk to the glacier or did you stay up by the visitor center?

[Captain Carnival]

 

I Can See My House...Err...Igloo from Here!

 

 

Time To Climb!

 

 

Am I There Yet?

 

I'm The King Of The Glacier!

 

 

Look - I Found A Lucky Penny!

 

 

Nope - It's A Geological Survey Marker.

[Captain Carnival]

Loving your review.

 

Question about the Mendenhall excursion. We looked at it for next summer. I read some reviews that said there wasn't enough time to walk to the glacier and back. Did you walk to the glacier or did you stay up by the visitor center?

 

 

Hi Tami - let me answer your question with this photo. As you can see the actual glacier is off to our left while on the right over my (left) shoulder is Nugget Falls that one can walk to taking a trail that curves off to the right; it is a 30 minute walk (one way) so this leave little time to do anything else except do a little rock climbing like we did.

Edited October 14, 2014 by Captain Carnival

[Captain Carnival]

Time To Eat

Salmon Bake Two

 

 



 

 

This was our second salmon bake in as many days with the first one in Liarsville (Skagway) nearly 24 hours earlier. Between the two there were a few differences and similarities.

 

The menu items were essentially the same offerings with the exception that we were given a steaming cup of incredible clam chowder just as soon as we stepped of the bus here in Juneau.

 

On a scale of 10 we rated the Liarsville overall experience as a 7 while the Juneau clearly rated a 10+ for the food quality, taste, and preparation standards PLUS the site location itself also had a waterfall site that we explored as well.

 



 

Fish On The Fire!

 

 



 

My Bride Approves!

 

 



 

Plate Number One!

 

 



 

Plate Number Two Including Salmon, Corn Bread, And Outstanding Blueberry Cake!

 

 



 

Plate Number Three?

[dltvermont]

First, Congratulations on your retirement!

 

Second, loving the review. Great writing style keeps it interesting! Id love to do an Alaskan cruise at some point. Just hard thinking of a cruise and having to wear jackets etc!!

[golfb4cruzing]

I think that's the only thing stopping us from booking, the clothes! Living in a Winter State, vacations are meant for warmer places. We'll get there eventually I guess.

[Captain Carnival]

Salmon Bake Scenery

 



 

Still Hiking!!

 

 



 

A Beautiful And Tranquil Waterfall.

 

 





An Antique Water Powered Generator.

 

 

 

One Last Shot Before Heading Back To Town And Our Carnival Miracle!

[Captain Carnival]

First, Congratulations on your retirement!

 

Second, loving the review. Great writing style keeps it interesting! Id love to do an Alaskan cruise at some point. Just hard thinking of a cruise and having to wear jackets etc!!

 

I think that's the only thing stopping us from booking, the clothes! Living in a Winter State, vacations are meant for warmer places. We'll get there eventually I guess.

 

Thanks!! As for the clothing concerns mentioned in both posts, we chose to go on the very last cruise of the season so we would get to spend a few days in the cold however most of the summertime Alaska dates are quite warm so you can leave the heavy winter clothes at home in the closet.

[nybumpkin]

I think that's the only thing stopping us from booking, the clothes! Living in a Winter State, vacations are meant for warmer places. We'll get there eventually I guess.

I'm from a Winter State as well (and DH is originally from Cleveland). We did the Alaska cruise in July and while we needed to pack jackets and long pants, we didn't need parkas. I wish I had remembered gloves, though.:o

[golfb4cruzing]

small world. 17 miles SW of Cleveland here and originally from Upstate NY. We will get there eventually before the ice disappears. I haven't seen a non majestic Alaskan photo yet.

Edited October 15, 2014 by golfb4cruzing

[Captain Carnival]

Great pictures! We helicoptered to Mendenhall Glacier and dog-sledded there - a truly once in a lifetime event! (as per my sig pic). Our CCL Alaska cruise is the only cruise we got off of and said "we have to do that again!" There were so many things we wanted to do, and never got a chance. I think our lungs got frost-bite from our mouths hanging open just admiring all the beautiful scenery on that cruise!

 

I concur that (for us) Alaska might be a once in a lifetime visit and we would have liked to have experienced the helicopter/dog sled excursions however they were a bit cost prohibitive but we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves 150%. Just being there, in Alaska, was actually enough and what we were able to take away from our own experiences will last for a lifetime.

 

More To Follow Including Our Next Port - Ketchikan!

Edited October 15, 2014 by Captain Carnival

[Captain Carnival]

After Juneau

 

Before heading back to the ship we strolled around downtown Cozumel, err I mean Juneau (all of those DI & TI stores keep throwing me off) and even got a great shot of some up close and personal Alaskan wildlife!

 



 

We Weren't Too Buzzzzzy To Get This Great Shot!

 

We returned to Our Carnival Miracle just in time to get ourselves together for Elegant Night #2 followed by a very pleasant and enjoyable evening together.

 



My Bride Say's She's Ready To Go!

 



 

But Not Before A Selfie!

 



 

Our Sole Photo Purchase - Elegant Night #2.

[Captain Carnival]

I'm from a Winter State as well (and DH is originally from Cleveland). We did the Alaska cruise in July and while we needed to pack jackets and long pants, we didn't need parkas. I wish I had remembered gloves, though.:o

 

Not to worry about the cold for all of your body parts - apparently these "Junk In The Trunk Fur Thongs" are all the rage! :eek::rolleyes:

 



 

 

small world. 17 miles SW of Cleveland here and originally from Upstate NY. We will get there eventually before the ice disappears. I haven't seen a non majestic Alaskan photo yet.

 

How's this photo for majestic Alaska?! :rolleyes: :D

[beanies098]

Hahaha that raptor photo is great! You're officially my favorite!

Edited October 15, 2014 by beanies098

[Captain Carnival]

Hahaha that raptor photo is great! You're officially my favorite!

 

Thanks and keep reading - there are more photos ahead!

[Captain Carnival]

SHOTS FIRED!!

 



 

Salute!!

 

In my former/retired profession the term "shots fired" was something one never wanted to ever utter or hear on the radio, however when aboard our Carnival Miracle it was a welcomed sound by all - especially when these shots contained Limoncello and not lead!

 



 

Our Collection Of Ammunition - 8 Shot Glasses!

 



 

Our Platinum Gifts - VIFP Travel Mugs!

 



 

Pre-Cruise Coffee Mugs That Matched Our Cruise T-Shirts!

[golfb4cruzing]

 

Not to worry about the cold for all of your body parts - apparently these "Junk In The Trunk Fur Thongs" are all the rage! :eek::rolleyes:

 



 

 

 

 

How's this photo for majestic Alaska?! :rolleyes: :D

Wear do I get a pair of those? Winters in Cleveland can get harsh.

[Captain Carnival]

Welcome To Ketchikan

Our Final Alaskan Port Of Call

 



My Bride Scanning The Ketchikan Shoreline As We Make Our Way Into Port.

 

Of the four Alaskan (land based) ports of call, Ketchikan was perhaps the one that was a bit overlooked and least explored simply because it was the first port that I booked an excursion for.

 

I recall being a little $hell $hocked when I first began to explore the various shore excursions that included quite a few very expensive offerings of helicopter rides and dog sled pulls and opted to scale back a little when selecting excursions.

 

Ketchikan offered one of the least expensive excursions and as a consequence I booked it quickly and basically figured that would be enough.

 

In hindsight I would say that we could have seen and explored more, however we really did enjoy our visit to Ketchikan and of course our excursion - The Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show.

 



 

My Bride Coming Ashore In Ketchikan.

 





The Great Alaskan (And Affordable) Lumberjack Show.

 

The show itself featured an array of lumberjack style competitions between the two rival camps - the USA Spruce Mill Camp Vs. the Canadian Dawson Creek Camp who took turns in a variety of chopping, sawing, cutting, swinging, climbing, rolling, and throwing events that would determine a victor at the end. In this case the Dawson Creek Camp edged out the Spruce Mill Camp by just one point; I suspect the show ended the other way during the afternoon show.

 

Nevertheless we had a great time for the next 90 minutes rooting on our team and laughing at all of the corny jokes and dry humor.

 

 



 

An Overall View Of The Competition Area.

 



 

Spruce Mill Vs. Dawson Creek

 



 

My Bride Having Too A Time With The Beefcake Brigade!

[Captain Carnival]

Wear do I get a pair of those? Winters in Cleveland can get harsh.

 

I guess you will have to either visit Alaska or perhaps take a look on eBay. ;)

[Captain Carnival]

The Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show

 



 

Here We Are At The Show Along With Our Tablemates And Friends Angie And Greg.

 

 

The Spruce Mill Camp Dual Saw Cut.

A Dawson Creek Member Saw Solo!

 

 

A Spruce Mill Member Balancing On A Narrow Plank Board Inserted Into A Tree Log While Topping It Off With An Axe.

 

 

Take That.....

 

And That....

 

 

Done!